NU coach Eric Altamirano is the least surprised that Troy Rosario is getting a lot of attention after a breakout season with the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP. Jaime Campos

TROY Rosario plans to enter the PBA draft as early as next year after helping National University win its first UAAP men's basketball championship in six decades.

The late-blooming big man from Cagayan province has drawn a lot of attention from scouts after a breakout season that saw him average a career-best 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs on the way to winning Most Improved Player honors.

“We will see kung ano ‘yung magandang chance. Ang balak ko talaga, habang maaga, pa-draft na ako siguro next year,” said Rosario, a longtime back-up to Emmanuel Mbe at NU who had to deal with knee and back injuries in his first few seasons with the Bulldogs.

Despite his plans to turn pro as early as possible, Rosario said he is still open to joining the national team if called upon. He was once a member of the national youth team years ago.